Second sniper sentenced to 10 years

Published: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 5:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 5:48 p.m.

The loss of his father made it hard for Mattison Tyler Schomer to say no.

Schomer wanted to please people. He wanted to please the man who shot at people — severely injuring one — in what authorities described as a sniper-style attack in July 2012.

Schomer, 18, of 124 West Drive, Spartanburg, pleaded no contest April 9 to three counts of attempted murder and receiving stolen goods for his role. A circuit court judge sentenced Schomer on Thursday to 10 years for each attempted murder charge and five years for receiving stolen goods. The sentences will run concurrently.

In court, 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette said Schomer told authorities that he and Bryan Marion Holder were target shooting with guns that Holder stole from a home on Bethesda Road on June 28, 2012.

Schomer claimed Holder, 21, of Boiling Springs began shooting at people with a stolen 30.06 rifle about 1:30 a.m. July 2 from a field beside the Raceway gas station at 8671 Asheville Highway. One woman was shot and two men were fired at, according to prior testimony.

Schomer's attorney, Brac Turnipseed, said in court that Schomer had a “good moral and religious upbringing” and was an active member of First Baptist North Spartanburg, often participating in church events.

Schomer is called Tyler by loved ones, several of whom were present at his sentencing, including his grandparents and mother.

Schomer's father committed suicide. Saturday marks the nine-year anniversary of his death. Turnipseed said that Schomer changed after his father's death.

Schomer began having behavioral issues, received counseling and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. He was prescribed medication that did not benefit him and he didn't get the treatment that he needed, Turnipseed said.

Turnipseed asked Culbertson to consider that Schomer was 17 years old at the time of the shootings, did not get the mental health treatment he needed and said the trauma of losing his father made Schomer feel like he had to “appease” everybody, including his co-defendant, Holder.

A jury found Holder guilty in May of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature for one victim's shooting, two counts of first-degree assault and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He received a 40-year sentence.

Schomer testified against Holder. Barnette told Culbertson that Schomer also cooperated with law enforcement.

Schomer's family asked for mercy.

Schomer also addressed the judge. Shackled and wearing a jail-issued jumpsuit, Schomer briefly spoke about his father's loss and its impact. When he turned to victims seated on the front row, he said, “What happened that night, I'm sorry.”

Bonnie Raines is among the victims. A bullet ripped through one side of her body. Her father, David Raines, told the judge that his daughter is daily reminded of the shooting and bears a “horrible” scar.

Raines said Schomer should be held accountable for his actions — doing so might prevent another father from receiving a phone call that his daughter had been shot.

Schomer entered Alford pleas on all counts. A defendant does not admit guilt in an Alford plea, but concedes that a jury would likely find him guilty.

Schomer was on probation for nonviolent second-degree burglary and petit larceny at the time of the shootings. He had been sentenced under the state's Youthful Offender Act.

Culbertson revoked Schomer's probation and imposed an indefinite sentence not to exceed six years. After he completes that sentence, he will begin serving time for the crimes related to the shooting offense.

<p>The loss of his father made it hard for Mattison Tyler Schomer to say no.</p><p>Schomer wanted to please people. He wanted to please the man who shot at people — severely injuring one — in what authorities described as a sniper-style attack in July 2012.</p><p>Schomer, 18, of 124 West Drive, Spartanburg, pleaded no contest April 9 to three counts of attempted murder and receiving stolen goods for his role. A circuit court judge sentenced Schomer on Thursday to 10 years for each attempted murder charge and five years for receiving stolen goods. The sentences will run concurrently.</p><p>In court, 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette said Schomer told authorities that he and Bryan Marion Holder were target shooting with guns that Holder stole from a home on Bethesda Road on June 28, 2012.</p><p>Schomer claimed Holder, 21, of Boiling Springs began shooting at people with a stolen 30.06 rifle about 1:30 a.m. July 2 from a field beside the Raceway gas station at 8671 Asheville Highway. One woman was shot and two men were fired at, according to prior testimony.</p><p>Schomer's attorney, Brac Turnipseed, said in court that Schomer had a “good moral and religious upbringing” and was an active member of First Baptist North Spartanburg, often participating in church events.</p><p>Schomer is called Tyler by loved ones, several of whom were present at his sentencing, including his grandparents and mother.</p><p>“Your honor, there's one person missing from this equation and that's his father,” Turnipseed told Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Culbertson.</p><p>Schomer's father committed suicide. Saturday marks the nine-year anniversary of his death. Turnipseed said that Schomer changed after his father's death.</p><p>Schomer began having behavioral issues, received counseling and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. He was prescribed medication that did not benefit him and he didn't get the treatment that he needed, Turnipseed said.</p><p>Turnipseed asked Culbertson to consider that Schomer was 17 years old at the time of the shootings, did not get the mental health treatment he needed and said the trauma of losing his father made Schomer feel like he had to “appease” everybody, including his co-defendant, Holder.</p><p>A jury found Holder guilty in May of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature for one victim's shooting, two counts of first-degree assault and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He received a 40-year sentence.</p><p>Schomer testified against Holder. Barnette told Culbertson that Schomer also cooperated with law enforcement.</p><p>Schomer's family asked for mercy.</p><p>Schomer also addressed the judge. Shackled and wearing a jail-issued jumpsuit, Schomer briefly spoke about his father's loss and its impact. When he turned to victims seated on the front row, he said, “What happened that night, I'm sorry.”</p><p>Bonnie Raines is among the victims. A bullet ripped through one side of her body. Her father, David Raines, told the judge that his daughter is daily reminded of the shooting and bears a “horrible” scar.</p><p>Raines said Schomer should be held accountable for his actions — doing so might prevent another father from receiving a phone call that his daughter had been shot.</p><p>Schomer entered Alford pleas on all counts. A defendant does not admit guilt in an Alford plea, but concedes that a jury would likely find him guilty.</p><p>Schomer was on probation for nonviolent second-degree burglary and petit larceny at the time of the shootings. He had been sentenced under the state's Youthful Offender Act.</p><p>Culbertson revoked Schomer's probation and imposed an indefinite sentence not to exceed six years. After he completes that sentence, he will begin serving time for the crimes related to the shooting offense.</p>